Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Best History Supplement EVER

Most of you know what I do with TOS, and on occasion, this affords me the opportunity to review a product I have heard a lot about, but have never used. It is rare that I actually choose to review something because a) reviews take time and b) I don't have a lot of that! :+) This particular product though, was worth every second of my time and I wanted to share it with you.

HISTORY Through the Ages Timeline Figures (Creation to Present)HISTORY Through the Ages Suggested Placement GuideHISTORY Through the Ages Record of TimeHomeschool in the WoodsBy Amy Pakwww.homeschoolinthewoods.com

3997 Roosevelt HighwayHolley NY 14470585-964-8188

I have long been interested in doing history timelines with my children, but there are a variety of ways of going about it. I wanted creative and well-drawn interesting timeline figures with brief summaries of the person, place, or event we were studying. I wanted a guideline that would help me in this placement so I knew I was not totally off the mark. I wanted a beautiful book that we could use for many years that we could refer back to again and again. I wanted versatility for many ages, and I wanted it to be worth the money. Money does not come easy to most homeschool families – is this a resource that has staying power?

I believe Amy Pak’s HISTORY Through the Agestimeline resources have succeeded in providing all of these things and much more!

Once you open the HISTORY Through the Ages Timeline Figures, you will see that you have far more than 1,260 black and white figures on two CDs. You have a veritable library of information at your fingertips to use with all ages. All the figures are re-sizable for those younger children keeping history notebooks that may not yet be doing timelines! That means you have 1,260 coloring pages of all the same topics you are studying with your older children! This is exactly what I have been looking for.

Not only are the figures organized in chronological order, but they are also organized alphabetically as well as classified by group. For example, you can find images for Ancient China, Ancient Wonders of the World, Authors/Literary Works, New and Old Testament, Civil Acts & Activists, Wars/Conflicts/Acts of Aggression, Scientists/Inventors/Mathematicians, Religious Figures & Events, and many many more. Anything you are trying to locate can be easily found on these CDs.

Many of you will want to know how the figures are dated so I am going to quote the author:

Bear this in mind when considering the earliest dates: We at HomeSchool in the Woods believe in a young earth, with a literal 7-days of Creation. The problem we've encountered with older dates and existing texts and curricula is that just about everything in publication has been dated according to the Historical Records. These are found both in the early Egyptian and Sumerian history. According to the Egyptian calendar, our oldest dates can be off by as much as several hundred to 1000 years, placing Creation to c. 4000 BC, and the flood more in the vicinity of c. 2400-2300 BC. However, this throws the remaining early dates in a tailspin when it comes to almost everything in print out there! Within history texts and curricula, the Egyptian calendar dating is widely used.

When it comes to the most ancient of dates, especially those pertaining to the period of Creation through the time of Egypt, bear in mind the unreliability of exact dates. As mentioned throughout this resource, should your research and findings lead you to place a figure at a different location, by all means do so! As you proceed beyond these dates, they will eventually line up and have records that back them accurately. However, the further back we go, the less apt we all are to find accurate dates without having been there or knowing the trustworthiness of the source and authors of the historical data; the very data that is used to write the history books and texts available. With the knowledge that earlier dates are based on the Egyptian calendar, we have designed our resource to align with respected Christian curriculum providers.

So what kind of figures are you likely to find here? I will give you a sampling. From the first section, Creation to Christ:

Of the immense choices available with this resource, this is only a tiny sampling!

For those considering a purchase of this product, please note and honor the copyright:

Purchase of this product allows you a single license to use the contents of these CDs for your individual family only. Sharing images, whether via computer or hardcopy, with other families or friends is strictly prohibited. Re-sale of these CDs is also prohibited. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means - graphic, electronic or mechanical, including duplicating, photocopying, information or retrieval systems, the world wide web, or e-mail - without written permission from the author. Distribution within large classes is also prohibited. Use is granted for small co-op classes, provided it meets these requirements: maximum of 12 children to the class; no more than 50 figures. Anything beyond that, please contact HomeSchool in the Woods for permission or terms of licensing to schools. For permission to reproduce graphics for any other purpose, please contact HomeSchool in the Woods.

The HISTORY Through the Ages Record of Time is a beautiful well-built hardback binder that will house your lengthy timeline. Starting at 5,000 B.C., and ending with 2,025 A.D., the cream-colored cardstock paper is made to hold up for many years and lots of timeline figures! The older sections have large periods of time between them. For example, 5,000 B.C. to 4,000 B.C., has 1,000 years between them from one page to the next. The later years have much less time between them. For example, 900 B.C. only has 100 years between that page and the next, 800 B.C. Further into the Record of Time from one page to the next you will sometimes find only ten years. I am really grateful for this space as there are will be more people and events that we wish to note.

At the end of the Record of Time you will find seventeen classically drawn old and modern world maps. Ancient China, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, South America, Central America, United States, World, etc. are all here.

The HISTORY Through the Ages Suggested Placement Guide is exactly what it says it is. It is an immense help for those of you wondering just where certain things should be placed. Do we place George Washington on his birthday or during the Revolutionary War or when he became our President? Some events have specific dates (Pearl Harbor) and other events (Civil War) span some time. Should that go at the beginning or the end? The guide helps you with these types of questions as well as offers you a page by page picture of what your timeline *can* look like. Of course we will not all choose the exact same figures as there are just so many tantalizing ones to choose from, but we can see what it should look like and follow suit.

Upon first examination the price may seem high to some of you. However, it is my opinion that it is so useful, for so many years of homeschooling, for every age of child, that this cost is absolutely worth it in every respect. As the Product Reviews Manager, I have both seen and used a *lot* of history resources. If I had to choose just one resource to add to our curriculum, without a doubt it would be this one. I had no real idea what was contained in this product until examining it myself. I am not at all easily impressed, and this product has completely blown my expectations out of the water. It is so much more than I thought it was and has so much to offer every homeschool family. This is highly recommended!

5 comments:

proverbsmomof3
said...

I had put off purchasing the History Through the Ages CD for a while because of the cost, but I am so glad that I was able to save the money to get a copy. I absolutely love all that Amy Pak has put together. Not just the beautiful art work, but the little tidbits under the pictures. Being an artistically challenged family, I have found this to be a tremendous timesaver as opposed to hunting the net for the appropriate picture. The kids are able to color the pictures the way they see fit and they can be printed with or without the tidbit depending on what I want them to do. Just a wonderful addition to the study of history whether you use timelines or not.

Just bought these (minus the Placement Guide but now wondering if I should get that too ;)) yesterday from the TOS Store! :) Can't wait to start our history study this August! Being someone who never learned much in all my years of school about history *blush*, I am SO EAGER to finally learn. LOL It wasn't until my LAST quarter in college when I finally took that dreaded history course I had to take that I could have kicked myself for not taking it sooner....and more of them those (too many) years there!

I'm rambling...hee hee.

I've missed seeing you at church lately! Hope to be able to chat with you again soon.

Hi - I found your link from Monika's site. I read your comment regarding the classical astronomy book and website. It's great! I am ordering it through TOS (free shipping there!) ;)

I wanted to ask you if you had any suggestions or know of a site or curiculum on Weather - especially from a biblical persepective that dives deep into the amazing and majestic ways of God's weather! (Yes, I love weather but would love to teach it to my children sans false theories and global warming yak). Thanks!

About Me

How does one define themselves? I am a Christian wife, mother, homeschooler, and an independent reviewer. There are so many hats I wear it is hard to narrow it down.

I love sound reformed theology, the study of our logical God in the world around us, the study of HIStory, creation, and the beauty God gives us. I believe in the mercy of a loving Savior. I believe He went to the cross for my sins--and for those who turn to Him in repentance! I am constantly amazed by His goodness.

I can't believe I get to be a mother to five amazing children. They continually astonish me by the people they are, and as they get older, it only gets better. I have the best and most devoted husband in the world.

I am blessed. I rejoice in His mercy! Thank you for visiting my little place on the web--all are welcome here.